Particulate Matter Removal Efficiency Research Articles

Self-synthesis and performance analysis of a Cu-Fe composite ZSM-5 zeolitic catalyst for NOx reduction and particulate matter removal using NH3 SCR

The NH3-SCR has gained widespread usage due to its exceptional denitrification efficiency. It achieves high nitrogen oxides (NOx) reduction rates within the temperature range of 300⁰C to 400℃. Nonetheless, most of the catalyst have a limited temperature range for effective NOx removal applications. For sustainable utilization of common combustion units, it has become essential to develop a catalyst which can provide a broader spectrum of temperature range for NOx reduction. This study is thus aimed to enhance the structure of ZSM-5 zeolite molecular sieves using tetrapropylammonium bromide. Copper and iron ions (total 3% weight) were incorporated to boost the reaction at temperatures of 180⁰C, 250⁰C and 320⁰C. The overall efficiency of NOx removal was above 81%, highest being 97.6%. The carrier significantly impacts the NOx conversion rate with increased copper ion content in the samples at medium and low temperatures. The Particulate Matter removal efficiency ranged from 90.1% to 93.1%.

PM2.5 Collection Enhancement in a Smart Hybrid Wet Scrubber Tower

The removal efficiency of particulate matter of less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) using an innovative wet scrubber tower with an IoT system for PM2.5 real-time monitoring was investigated. The PM2.5 used in this experiment was obtained from vehicle exhaust, specifically from running the diesel engine of a pickup truck with a range of PM2.5 with a concentration ranging from 50 µg/m3 to 500 µg/m3. Focused parameters related to PM2.5 were analyzed, such as the liquid-to-air ratio (it uses air because this device purifies PM2.5 for the airflow from the polluted ambient air), turbulence techniques enabled by the installation of a deflector and a baffle at the airflow inlet, water level fluctuation above the nozzle, spray nozzle size, and the type of packing material. The average PM2.5 removal efficiency was determined for each parameter relevant to the experiment. The results showed that increasing the liquid-to-air ratio increased the average PM2.5 removal efficiency, while the smaller droplet spraying water resulted in higher efficiency. The spray section achieved its highest efficiency at 58.63%, with a liquid-to-air ratio of 13.21 L/m3 and droplet size of 270 µm. The turbulence technique showed a higher potential for the removal of PM2.5, with an efficiency level of 71.56% at a water level of 150 mm. Moreover, the operation incorporates water spraying and turbulence induction, promoting higher removal efficiency, from 71.56% to 87.59%, at a water level of 150 mm and a liquid-to-air ratio of 9.03 L/m3. This condition resulted in an output concentration of PM2.5 less than 15 µg/m3, which meets the WHO’s guidelines for PM2.5 intensity. This cleverly designed wet scrubber tower can clean up to 13,320 m3 of air daily or remove up to 2,464 g of PM2.5 per day. No enhancement of PM2.5 removal efficiency was observed when two types of packing materials were used due to the formation of bigger droplets as the packing materials were passed through.

Performance evaluation of particulate matter removal by surfactant foams

Surfactant foams can be repeatedly formed and ruptured, providing an extensive surface area which can be utilized for the contaminant removal. In order to mitigate the expenses associated with filter maintenance in the filter-equipped device, the particulate matter removal was attempted by the surfactant foam in this study, aiming to assess the feasibility as an alternative technology for improving air quality. Two types of particulate matter (Arizona test dust (ATD) and incense stick) and two types of surfactants (SLS-30 and LAO) were adopted to evaluate the removal efficiency of particulate matter under different surfactant concentrations (0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 wt%) and different flow systems (with and without internal airflow). Overall, ATD were better removed than incense stick due to the larger size which resulted in the greater sedimentation and subsequent contact with foams. Also, SLS-30 showed better removal performance than LAO as the surfactant concentration increased from 0.05 wt% to 0.2 wt%. These findings can be attributed to foam generation properties, in which SLS-30 demonstrated superior foam generation capabilities as the surfactant concentration increased, providing a larger surface area for PM adsorption as well as suppressing the remaining headspace in the chamber. The findings in this study presents the advantageous utilization of foams as an adsorbent for PM as well as a filling material in the limited space, thereby enabling enhanced PM removal capabilities.

Development of electrospun filter with high efficiency to reduce disturbance on gas detection in dusty environments

AbstractIn some harsh environments, certain gases are very important for the safety, such as methane gas from underground coal mines, which may explode causing catastrophic consequences. However, such gas detections are often disturbed by the particles. In this study, aiming at the scenario of underground coal mines, electrospun filters were developed and used as the pre‐filter of electronic nose (PFEN) to mitigate the disturbance on gas detection in dusty environments. Two poly (ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) filters and four poly (ε‐caprolactone)/graphene oxide (PCL/GO) filters have been prepared and compared with two commercial filters. The results shows that all filters did not affect the response of sensors to the detecting gas as compared with that without filters. The PCL/GO filter at GO concentration of 0.03% (PCL/GO‐3) had the best performance. The PCL/GO‐3 filter exhibited high removal efficiency of particulate matter (PM) with 99.27% (PM1), 99.67% (PM2.5), and 99.90% (PM10), low pressure drop of 75 Pa, and highest quality factor of 0.076 as compared with other filters. In addition, the PCL/GO‐3 filter exhibited higher tensile strength than those of other electrospun filters and commercial filters. These results indicate that the electrospun filters can be excellent option to be used as PFEN for mitigating PM deposition for gas detection in dusty environments.

Field evaluation of electrostatic precipitators for particulate matter mitigation in a manure-belt layer facility

Two full-scale electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) were tested at a commercial poultry egg production facility to assess their particulate matter (PM) removal capabilities. The smaller indoor ESP had an airflow treatment area of 0.371 m2 and operated at 26 kV, resulting in mean PM2.5, PM10, and total suspended particulates (TSP) removal efficiencies of 79.6% ± 5.7%, 92.7% ± 4.4%, and 94.6% ± 2.0%, respectively. The respective mean PM2.5, PM10, and TSP removal efficiencies for the larger exhaust ESP, which had an airflow treatment area of 0.767 m2 and was operated at 40 kV, were 93.6% ± 5.0%, 94.0% ± 5.0%, and 94.7% ± 4.4%. The indoor ESP showed greater PM2.5 and PM10 removal efficiencies in warm weather, whilst cold weather resulted in higher removal efficiencies for the exhaust ESP. The indoor ESP exhibited greater PM2.5 removal efficiencies throughout the afternoon, while PM removal efficiencies were lower during the afternoon for the exhaust ESP. Previously developed empirical models to predict weighted ESP PM removal efficiencies were calibrated to field data and successfully validated. The indoor ESP featured an initial cost of US$7,095 and an estimated annual operating cost of US$120, with a system of ESPs to treat recirculated air costing US$16,765 annually. For the exhaust ESP, the initial cost per unit was US$8,610, with an estimated annual operating cost of US$123 per unit or US$23,631 for a system of ESPs to treat exhaust air for the entire facility. Significant further research is required to quantitatively assess potential cost effectiveness for systems of multiple ESPs installed at commercial poultry facilities.

Chitosan Coating in the Form of Polymer and Nanowhiskers on Clothing Fabrics for Improved Particulate Matter Removal Efficiency in Face Mask Filters

ABSTRACT The demand for face masks is increasing exponentially due to the coronavirus pandemic and the particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere. As a result, an enormous number of disposable mask filters have been produced and discarded, contributing to plastic waste. Underprivileged people who cannot afford to purchase commercial face masks have started making fabric masks with waste clothing; however, this material does not effectively filter viruses or PM. Therefore, in this study, a chitosan coating was applied to clothing fabrics to increase their effectiveness as face masks. The improvement in the PM removal efficiency owing to the chitosan polymer was observed for stocking, innerwear, and bamboo materials, but not for cotton. Furthermore, chitosan prepared in the form of a nanowhisker (CsW) achieved a PM 2.5 removal efficiency of 96% in a five-layer cotton fabric. In addition, a commercial biodegradable poly(lactic acid) filter was coated with CsW, which increased the PM 2.5 removal efficiency from 67% to 83%. Additionally, microbial growth was significantly suppressed in the chitosan-coated fabrics, and the degree to which it was suppressed depended on the coating concentration. The study will aid in the utilization of face mask filters that are more sustainable, efficient, and widely accessible.

Electric charge effect of micro-droplets generated by electrospray atomization on removal of indoor fine particulate matter

Airborne particulate matter (PM) can cause critical health issues due to its adverse effects on human health. Given that people usually spend more than 90% of their time indoors, controlling the mass concentration of indoor PM is very important. Although many studies on indoor PM removal have been conducted, they are mostly limited to filtration techniques. In addition, studies about practical techniques that ecan be directly applied to an indoor environment are relatively scarce. In this article, the PM removal effects of electro-charged water droplets through electrospray atomization were experimentally investigated by quantitatively monitoring the PM concentration inside a test chamber. The PM removal efficiency and the deposition constant were examined with varying electric charges of atomized water droplets, and cigarette and incense smokes were used as indoor PMs. The electric charge was measured by using a Faraday cup with an electrometer to validate the electrostatic effect on PM removal. Analytical deposition constant was obtained to evaluate the effect of electrostatic force of the charged droplets on PM removal. The analytical deposition constant was obtained based on the experimental results, such as the electric charges and mean diameter of the water droplets and the PM concentration. The analytical deposition constants were compared with the experimental ones. This electrospray system would be utilized to demonstrate its applicability in real life for effective indoor PM removal.

Electrospun Cyclodextrin/Poly(L-lactic acid) Nanofibers for Efficient Air Filter: Their PM and VOC Removal Efficiency and Triboelectric Outputs.

In this work, PLLA and CD/PLLA nanofibers were fabricated using electrospinning and utilized as a particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) filter. The electrospun PLLA and CD/PLLA were characterized with various techniques, including SEM, BET, FTIR, XRD, XPS, WCA, DSC, tensile strength testing, PM and VOCs removal efficiency, and triboelectric performance. The results demonstrated that the best air filter was 2.5 wt%CD/PLLA, which performed the highest filtration efficiencies of 96.84 ± 1.51% and 99.38 ± 0.43% for capturing PM2.5 and PM10, respectively. Its PM2.5 removal efficiency was 16% higher than that of pure PLLA, which were contributed by their higher surface area and porosity. These 2.5 wt%CD/PLLA nanofibers also exhibited the highest and the fastest VOC entrapment. For triboelectric outputs, the 2.5 wt%CD/PLLA-based triboelectric nanogenerator provided the highest electrical outputs as 245 V and 84.70 μA. These give rise to a three-fold enhancement of electrical outputs. These results indicated that the 2.5 wt%CD/PLLA can improve surface charge density that could capture more PM via electrostatic interaction under surrounding vibration. Therefore, this study suggested that 2.5 wt%CD/PLLA is a good candidate for a multifunction nanofibrous air filter that offers efficient PM and VOC removal.

New Prospects to Systematically Improve the Particulate Matter Removal Efficiency of Urban Green Spaces at Multi-Scales

Previous studies on the removal of airborne particulate matter (PM) by plants have mostly focused on the individual scale, hence there is a lack of systematic understanding of how to improve the PM removal effect of green spaces (GS) at multi-scales. We provide new insights into an integrated model, which integrates the utilization efficiency of vertical space and time into the multi-cycle PM removal model developed in our previous study. By analyzing the variabilities of the influencing factors at different scales, directions to improve this function at multiple scales can be proposed. According to the planning of urban GS, five scales were divided. At the species scale, plants should not only have the characteristics to match the local climate, but also a high utilization efficiency of time and space. At the community scale, increasing the hierarchy and structural complexity can help improve the utilization of vertical space. At the patch and landscape scales, the factor affecting the PM removal efficiency of GS lie in precipitation frequency, and large/small green patches with low/high landscape fragmentation in climates with low/high precipitation frequency are recommended. At the urban scale, it is necessary to increase the degree of temporal and spatial distribution matching between PM and GS. These findings can improve urban GS planning to contribute to the removal of airborne PM.

A Study on the Particle Removal Efficiency and Durability According to the Material of the Ionizer of the Fiber Brush Type Electric Precipitator

In this study, we investigated the particulate matter (PM) removal efficiency and durability of the two-stage electrostatic precipitator (ESP) different materials of brush-typed ionizers (non-metal: carbon fiber/metal: stainless steel (SUS) fiber). The PM removal efficiency was reduced when the average diameter and number of fibers of the brush-typed ionizer increased due to thin and multi-edge in a large number of fibers, which decreased the average electric field, resulting in lower PM removal efficiencies. In contrast with the carbon fiber ionizer, when the SUS fiber ionizer was used, the PM removal efficiency was maintained for a long time, due to its lower electrical resistivity (∼6.9 × 10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">−7</sup> Ω * m) of the SUS fiber compared with the carbon fiber (∼5 × 10 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">−4</sup> Ω * m), which prevents the positive ions to be stacked on the fiber. Therefore, the present research showed the potential use to apply SUS fiber ionizers as two-stage ESPs for a future air pollution control technology with high PM removal efficiency and durability without ozone emission and additional maintenance.

Core-shell structured, mixed cellulose ester-alumina composite membranes for air filters with improved environmental resistance

In this study, a composite membrane was developed by conformally coating an ultrathin Al2O3 layer through low-temperature (90 °C) atomic layer deposition (ALD) on a hydrophilic mixed cellulose ester (MCE) membrane with a 3D networked microporous structure. The thickness of the deposited Al2O3 layer, without clogging the pores of the membrane, was precisely controlled by varying the number of ALD cycles from 100 to 300. The ultrathin (∼33 nm) Al2O3 layer greatly enhanced the resistance to various environmental stimuli and contributed to the improved removal efficiency of airborne particulate matter (PM), owing to the reduced pore size. The resulting composite membrane installed on an insect screen exhibited excellent removal efficiency (>99%) for PM of various sizes (PM1.0, PM2.5, and PM10) at a controlled flow rate of 1 L/min. In particular, unlike polypropylene-based commercial PM filters that strongly rely on electrostatic adsorption for PM filtration, the reduction in the PM removal efficiency caused by water or ethanol was negligible in the developed composite membrane, enabling long-term use even in extreme environments.

A novel multi-gradient PASS nanofibrous membranes with outstanding particulate matter removal efficiency and excellent antimicrobial property

Air pollution, especially tiny pollutant particles and harmful microorganisms, has become a serious environmental issue, bringing great damage to human body. Air filtration has been a widely used and effective method for air purification. However, the addition of antimicrobial agents usually leads to the agglomeration and the toxicity of the filter material. Here, a versatile poly (aryl sulfide sulfone)/graphene oxide@silver (PASS/GO@Ag) air filtration membrane was fabricated by in-situ reduction and electrospinning approach, resulting in high filtration efficiency and excellent biocompatibility. The results showed that GO@Ag antimicrobial agent was successfully synthetized. The Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on the GO surface not only increased the antimicrobial property but also reduced the agglomeration of the antimicrobial agent. Meanwhile, GO@Ag was wrapped on the surface of the PASS nanofibers by ultrasonication to form a rough surface to further improve the filtration efficiency. The as-prepared PASS/GO@Ag membrane exhibited high air filtration performance (99.63 ± 0.34 %, 79.17 ± 1.07 Pa). Besides, it also showed excellent antimicrobial properties and good biocompatibility. The antibacterial rates of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were 99.57 ± 1.04 % and 97.93 ± 1.31 %, respectively. More importantly, the PASS/GO@Ag membrane could endow long-term use for one month, with the antibacterial rates of E. coli and S. aureus of 96.52 ± 1.20 % and 94.48 ± 1.13 %, respectively. Therefore, the developed membrane will have great potential for personal air filtration.

An in situ self-charging triboelectric air filter with high removal efficiency, ultra-low pressure drop, superior filtration stability, and robust service life

Applying air filters is a practical approach to protecting people from particulate matter (PM) pollution. However, high pressure drop or removal efficiency decay remains a considerable challenge for existing air filters while maintaining desirable removal efficiency. Generating charges by TENG technology is one of the significant advances for high-efficiency air filters. While TENG-based air filters usually require an additional TENG to achieve high removal efficiency that is only effective during TENG operation, resulting in increased redundancy and complexity of filters for practical applications. Using nonwoven carding and through-air bonding techniques, here we report an in situ Self-charging Triboelectric Air Filter (S-TAF) consisting of silica nanoparticles modified polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fibers and polypropylene/polyethylene (PP/PE) core-shell fibers. The S-TAF can be bipolarly charged in situ due to the triboelectrification effect between fibers during the carding process, thus dramatically enhancing the PM removal efficiency by electrostatic attraction. The unique core-shell structure of PP/PE fibers and the application of the through-air bonding process endowed the filter with a fluffy structure, high porosity, and large pore size, enabling the S-TAF with ultra-low pressure drop and robust service stability. Notably, the removal efficiency and quality factor (QF) of the S-TAF reached 99.28% and 0.19 Pa−1, and the pressure drop was only 26.46 Pa. Besides, the S-TAF also exhibited superior charge and filtration stability. Our unique design of the S-TAF may provide a new direction for fabricating high-performance air filters with integrated properties of high removal efficiency, ultra-low pressure drop, superior QF and filtration stability, and robust service life.

Evaluation of the performance of the cross/updraft type gasification technology with the sliding bed over a circular grate

In this article, a novel, pilot-scale gasification technology is closely described from the technological and design points of view. The construction of the fuel bed within the reactor is circular, operating according to the sliding bed principle, equipped with a tangential oxidiser intake. The technology combines principles of cross-draft and updraft gasification reactor type in an autothermal regime. In the model process with softwood pellets (spruce wood) as source fuel, the LHV of the producer gas reached 4.3 MJ·m−3, with the overall conversion ratio reaching 80.3%. These results were obtained in a 709 ± 10 °C environment with the fuel feed rate equal to exactly 30 kg·h−1 while the flow rate of the oxidising media was 17 ± 1 m3∙h−1.The gas quality in terms of its content is a major factor to be considered. The purity of the producer gas is crucial for most final-use technologies. Thus, the question of polluting agents and undesired substances is analysed and discussed in this article. The custom-made cleaning track of hereby described scientific technology can operate with 99.9% particulate matter removal efficiency, while tar compounds within the producer gas are kept as low as 9.7 g·m−3.This article summarises a detailed description of a specific pilot-scale gasification unit where results of an experimental analysis are depicted along with real-time values and detailed schematic descriptions and illustrations, providing a base for comparison with conventional technology designs.

Preparation and Characterization of Electrospun PAN-CuCl2 Composite Nanofiber Membranes with a Special Net Structure for High-Performance Air Filters.

The growing issue of particulate matter (PM) air pollution has given rise to extensive research into the development of high-performance air filters recently. As the core of air filters, various types of electrospun nanofiber membranes have been fabricated and developed. With the novel poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN)-CuCl2 composite nanofiber membranes as the filter membranes, we demonstrate the high PM removal efficiency exceeding 99% and can last a long service time. The nanoscale morphological characteristics of nanofiber membranes were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and mercury intrusion porosimeter. It is found that they appear to have a special net structure at specific CuCl2 concentrations, which substantially improves PM removal efficiency. We anticipate the PAN-CuCl2 composite nanofiber membranes will be expected to effectively solve some pressing problems in air filtration.

Experimental study on particulate matter removal using packed-bed dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor

In this study, a packed-bed dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor was developed for particulate matter (PM) removal. The effects of operating conditions such as the packing materials, applied power, and discharging gap were systematically investigated. The results revealed that Zeolite 13X exhibited the highest PM removal efficiency based on its high electrostatic adsorption capacity. A narrow discharge gap (2.4 mm) and increased power density resulted in an enhancement of the PM removal efficiency in the system. Further, these operating conditions increased the electric field strength, which was proportional to the current density in the system. The energy yield decreased with an increase in the specific energy input into the packed-bed DBD reactor. Among the tested operating parameters, maintaining a narrow discharging gap was determined to be the most important for achieving high energy efficiency and PM removal in the system. Moreover, an air cleaning procedure was applied for the regeneration of the packing materials, resulting in a high recovery rate of over 80%.

Four-in-one multifunctional air filter using copper coordination polymer particle decorated fibre for efficient pathogen removal and indoor air treatment

This paper introduces a multifunctional air filter with a strong ability to trap and disinfect pathogens and absorb particulate matter (PM), the volatile organic compound (VOC), and CO2. This study demonstrates a facile and eco-friendly synthesis of copper coordination polymer particle (Cu-CPP)-decorated non-woven fibre filters (Cu-CPP/NWF) via an in situ growth dip-coating method. Their multifunction potentials in air pollution treatment are also assessed. The Cu-CPP/NWF filter media showed a remarkable performance for air treatment, with 100% disinfection efficiency against airborne E. coli bacteria (2 × 106 CFU mL−1) in 45 min, superior PM removal efficiency (quality factor 0.299 Pa−1), excellent p-xylene adsorption capacities (1.19 mmol/g) and high potential CO2 uptake capacities (19.81 cm3/g). A Cu-CPP can work as an antibacterial agent and an adsorbent component, thus offering many applications. The rational integration of Cu-CPP can substantially enhance the filtration efficiency via electrostatic interaction, while most commercial air purifiers rely on dense fibrous filters. This study provides valuable insight into developing a multifunctional and reusable air filter proven to be a life-saving product for public health protection.

High-performance electrospun particulate matter (PM) filters embedded with self-polarizable tetragonal BaTiO3 nanoparticles

This study developed a novel transparent filter with a high particulate matter (PM) removal efficiency and low airflow resistance for use in windows. The main idea of this filter is to combine the ability of electrospun nanofiber (NF) structures to minimize airflow resistance with the unique self-polarizability of tetragonal BaTiO3 (t-BTO) nanoparticles, which enables the capture of PM through electrostatic interactions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation predicted the self-polarization of t-BTO, and the presence of static electricity on the NF filters with t-BTO was confirmed by Kelvin probe force microscopy and electrostatic force measurement. Their PM removal efficiency and airflow resistance were dependent on the t-BTO loading and filter transparency. The filter with 20% t-BTO and 90% transparency exhibited a high PM removal efficiency (∼99.1% for PM10–2.5 and ∼98.9% for PM2.5) and a pressure drop of <70 Pa, indicating an extremely low airflow resistance. Moreover, its quality factor value reached ∼0.79 Pa−1, which far exceeds those of previously reported air filters (∼0.2 Pa−1). Further, accelerated long-term experiments for verifying the filter’s durability revealed that it exhibited a high PM removal performance and maintained a low airflow resistance despite a slight reduction in its performance. To enable the commercialization of our filter, the filter’s properties will be optimized based on the results of a field test under actual environments.

Particulate matter capturing over manganese dioxides with different crystal structures

Particulate matter (PM) is the main contributor to air pollution, and filtration has been reported to be promising for PM capturing. Considering the complexity of polluted air (volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ozone are likely concomitant with PM particles) and in view of the versatility of MnO2 for the degradation of VOCs and ozone, the feasibility of MnO2 materials as PM filtering media was investigated in this study, and the effect of crystal structure on PM filtration was clarified. Compared with the layered δ-MnO2, the MnO2 with tunnel structure (including 1 × 2-, 2 × 2- and 3 × 3-MnO2) exhibited greatly enhanced PM removal efficiencies, and particularly, the 3 × 3-MnO2 possessed not only significant activity for adsorbing PM particles but also high utilization efficiency of the active surface. Physicochemical properties of the adsorbents were studied by XRD, ATR, isothermal N2 adsorption, SEM and (HR)TEM. The correlation between pore characteristics and particle elimination activity demonstrates that the most developed mesoporous structure of the 3 × 3-MnO2 sample played an important role in strengthening the PM adsorption capability. Further comparison of the surface properties of the fresh and spent samples reveals that with respective to the occasion of δ-MnO2, the structure of 3 × 3-MnO2 was robust enough to resist collapse after PM capturing and the great accommodation of the inorganic and organic PM substances in the voluminous pores induced strong affinity between PM particles and 3 × 3-MnO2. Thereby, a higher particle filtration ability was retained.

Commuter exposures to in-transit PM in an urban city dominated by motorcycle: A case study in Vietnam

Exposure to in-transit particulate matter (PM) has negatively affected human health but is barely reported in an urban area dominated by motorcycles. This study aimed to investigate the personal exposure and inhaled dose of PM for commuting modes in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam. To do this, we conducted simultaneously sampled trips between on motorcycle without and with facemasks, car, and bus. Measurements were performed using portable PM monitors across representing routes in HCMC. In total, we conducted 1086 km in length of paired mode trips. The result shows that motorcyclist was exposed to the highest PM concentrations followed by bus and car commuters. A facemask worn by a motorcyclist while riding was consistent in reducing the in-transit PM exposures (e.g., ∼33–43% lower in PM2.5), and surgical facemask had higher PM removal efficiency than that of cloth facemask (p < 0.01). Ratios (I/O) for PM1 ranged from 0.31 for car/motorcycle to 0.77 for motorcycle-cloth facemask/motorcycle, and PM10 tend to have the lowest ratios. However, bus/motorcycle ratios show the opposite trend with the highest ratio obtained for PM10 due to the effect of a stop-and-go pattern during bus trips. Compared to ambient PM2.5 concentration, in-transit PM2.5 concentration on motorcycle has a good correlation with those measured at the urban station. In conclusion, our work suggests that motorcycle should be urgently restricted in megacities (like HCMC) to protect human health. Policy makers should also pay attention to in-transit PM exposure in public transport mode for future urban transport planning.